On Oct. 9, 1871 while the 4th Cavalry was camped near Silver Falls, a band of Kwahadis swooped over the sleeping troopers and stampeded about 70 head of horses.
At dawn a few of the troopers were ordered to set out in pursuit and recover the horses; however, they were drawn into a trap as the brush on each side was literally infested with Kwahadis.

By Capt. R.G. Carter´s account, a powerfully built chief on a coal-black horse led the pursuers in ambush. It was Quanah Parker, principal war chief of the Kwahadi Comanches. Carter, realizing the soldiers were in trouble ordered them to pull back. However, the Indians called the strategy. Pvt. Seander Gregg, whose horse gave out, was killed by Quanah Parker.

Gregg was buried at the southeast part of the butte where he was killed on October 10, 1871. Gregg had volunteered for military service on Oct. 24, 1870 and at the time of his death was 21 years old.

Another soldier buried in Blanco Canyon was Pvt. William Max, who died from typhoid fever on Sept. 4, 1874 at the field hospital Camp Supply. He was buried a mile up the canyon and across White River. A grave marker from a large sandstone slab was sculptured for Pvt. Max by one of the troopers. The marker has been moved to the Pioneer Memorial Museum for preservation and the government gave a new headstone as a replacement.

Max was born at Tipperary, Ireland, he enlisted May 11, 1870 at New York and was assigned to Troop K, 4th Cavalry.

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